Tailgate struts

[SHO]

Does anyone know if there is recall or T.S.B. on the tailgate struts on the Explorers? The passenger side stut has broken the tack welds and actually ripped the metal where it attaches to the tailgate. The dealership here was no help at all. Has anyone had this happen before and if so was it something easily repaired by a body shop? Thanks for any help! SHO

 

[dcwalters]

SHO, Here are some excerpts from a safety recall letter on this problem for 1996 & 1997 Explorers. Hope this helps. Dave.

******************************************
Ford Motor Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 1996 model year Explorer and certain 1997 model year Mountaineer vehicles.

Safety Defect
The lower right hand liftgate cylinder attachment bracket may separate from the bodyside. This may occur when the liftgate is being opened or closed or when the liftgate is in an open position. Unexpected closing of the liftgate caused by a separated bracket could result in injury to someone in its path.

Warning The vehicle should not be driven with its rear liftgate either fully or partially open. Harmful exhaust fumes could enter the passenger compartment if the liftgate were open. Also, cargo could fall out. Passengers may be at greater risk of injury, particularly in the event of an accident. Finally, damage to the liftgate cylinders and attaching hardware may result.

Repairs
At no charge to you, your dealer will reinforce the bracket with rivets. Dealers currently have instructions and parts ordering information.

Call Your Dealer
Call your dealer without delay. Ask for a service date and whether parts are in stock for Safety Recall 97S78.

If your dealer does not have the parts in stock, they can be ordered before scheduling your service date. Parts would be expected to arrive within a week.

When you bring your vehicle in, show the dealer this letter.

If you misplace this letter, your dealer will still do the work, free of charge.

If the dealer doesn't make the repair promptly and without charge, you may contact the Ford Customer Assistance Center, 300 Renaissance Center, P.0. Box 43360, Detroit, Michigan 48243. You also may send a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590 or call the toll free Auto Safety Hotline 1-800-424-9393 (Washington, D.C. area residents may call 366-0123).

 

[Optiman]

My passenger side liftgate strut broke at the top weld area also. I had a local paint and body shop do the repair. They charged me $58.00 to re-rivit BOTH sides. They even painted over the new rivits so it looks like new.

Optiman
94 EB

 

[bcorff]

Is this recall good on a '95? My brackets haven't broken yet, but you can see the metal they're mounted to flex every time I open the hatch. A friend of mine had the brackets break on his '95, but that was 2 years ago, and I don't know how he got it fixed and I have since lost contact with him.

Also, my struts do not lift the back door all the way up by themselves. I have to push it up the last few inches, especially in colder weather. Is this normal or do I need new struts?


------------------
Brian Corff
corff@colorado.edu
'95 XLT 4x4 V6

Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever.

 

[rpenner54]

Struts all do that when it is cold out. The worst ones I had were on a topper that I had on an F150. It was snowing and there was a little bit of snow on the glass so I lifted it up stuck my head under to get some stuff, and CRASH!, right down on my head. Dead Link Removed The Struts in my Explorer currently do the same thing yours do where you have to push it up the rest of the way. I would not worry to much about that.



------------------
Ryan Penner
1992 Explorer Sport

 

[BGN]

I got the recall letter for this on my 91 Sport. The dealer looked at it but I don't believe they actually did anything. It hasn't mattered one way or the other though since I've never had a problem.

Barry

 

[JimJa]

Be advised that Ford will only repair/replace under recall for 60,000 miles or less. This sounds like a legal limit, but I'm not sure about that. There is a time limit also - don't know what it is. This hatch recall was also done for early models. The fix included an extra "strap" on the upper mounting point that was riveted for reinforcement, and additional rivet on the lower mounting bracket. I had it done on my '92. I was told ATT if the hatch metal was torn, the hatch must be replaced for a proper fix. That seems extreme, a good mig welder should be able to fix it properly. Jim

 

[npearman]

My braket broke

The passenger side bracket on my 94 broke this weekend. I took it in this morning to a body shop to have them weld it back. The bracket actully tore away from the sheet metal. They said it would cost about 120 bucks to fix.

NP

 

[beavis195]

Over time, the OE struts lose their "slipperiness" inside. After being exposed to a lot of wind while open, One froze up and broke completely off like you guys are describing. We took it to Ford and got it fixed free because of the warranty. About a year ago we received a letter in the mail from Ford saying our Explorer still needed the strut replaced even though we did it. For some reason they sent us a check for $120. After thinking about it a while, I realized that was the deductible on the warranty with taxes and something else included. That was weird though having that tailgate smash me in the head while trying to pull it down.

 

[npearman]

take it to ford

I had my 94 in there about a week ago and they riveted a new brace on each side. it is a recall item.

 

[94Murph]

I just noticed this thread, so figured I would post. My strut broke loose on the right side, ripped off the tailgate. Took to the dealer here in Florida, said the only way to fix it right was to replace the whole tailgate, for about $1400. Said thanks but no thanks, I will just have to live with it, it is a 94 after all. About 2 weeks later, Get a letter from Ford saying that the vechile has been recalled for a defective tailgate, bring to the dealer for repairs. Brought it back and the guy told me the same thing, only way to fix it right was to replace it. Gave him the letter about the recall, brought it in a few days later, brand new tailgate and didnt cost me a thing. Also repalced the struts for free. I thought at first the were BS in me, but the dent in the gate was gone and I found some overspray on the buymper that they didnt clean off. Never hurts to ask about a recall, sometimes they dont tell until you ask.
Marty